gourmet twist

this week we've had fun putting a little twist on the classics. they're just as simple to make, but have that little something extra to impress a crowd.

{burgers&fries}

for father's day, my dad just wanted some good old burgers and fries. so, we picked up some of his favorite sirloin burgers from fresh market, along with some alexia's chipotle sweet potato fries.

to top things off, we sauteed mushrooms with rosemary and thyme, caramelized onions, and added some delicious gruyere cheese.

the result was a savory, juicy, flavorful burger that everyone loved.

what you need:
sirloin burger patties (fresh, not frozen)
onion, cut into thin strips
sliced white mushrooms
rosemary
thyme
onion buns (or kaiser rolls)

{grilled cheese}

when nobody felt much like cooking on wednesday, we decided to whip up some good old grilled cheese. instead of a white bread/american cheese combo, we used delicious multigrain bread, havarti cheese, thinly sliced granny smith apples, and a little sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg.

the result was delicious but so sweet it could almost be dessert!

what you need:
multigrain bread
sliced havarti cheese
granny smith apples
nutmeg
cinnamon
butter for the pan

any other gourmet twist ideas?

from the drafting table: hello + amish white bread

this will be the first of the celebrity posts from the other half of the blog. virginia is the brains behind the thing as the natural documenter, but the other half shall make his presence know. and so we begin with a particular interest of mine, baking bread!

while i lived in rome for four months in college studying architecture money was tight. vegetables were inexpensive, so they became a mainstay, and meat a budgetary victim. the other go to item was bread. it was cheap, beefed up the mass of any meal, and was south of two euros per delicious loaf at the family bakery on my walk from piazza navona where i lived to campo d'fiori where i took classes. but a bag of flour was 60 cents and water was free! i bought two bread pans at the casalinghi (translates to "the housewife store") and, a dozen or so batches later, i've never looked back.

this was the first recipe that i tried and it is still my favorite. it gets devoured by virginias, roommates, and family alike whenever it's made, and makes a mean french toast. in the end did it really make sense to spend three hours baking two loaves of bread to save a euro? not really, but there's something satisfying about it. and it left more money for wine.

daniel's amish white bread:

2 cups warm water

2/3 cup white sugar (if you use this much it comes out really sweet, i usually cut in half)

1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil

6 cups bread flour (once you know the texture the dough is supposed to have, you needn't actually measure out the flour, just keep adding until it has that proper doughy texture)

1. in a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. allow to sit until yeast resembles a creamy foam (usually about 5 minutes).
2. mix salt and oil into the yeast. mix in flour one cup at a time (if you have a sifter, sift the flour as you add, but it's not necessary). knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. place in a well oiled bowl and turn dough to coat. cover with a damp cloth and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about an hour (don't stretch this too long, but the more it rises the fluffier it will be)
3. punch dough down (it fills with carbon dioxide as the yeast eat the sugars). knead for a few minutes and divide in half. shape into loaves and place into well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. allow to rise for 30 minutes or until dough has rise 1 inch above pans.
4. bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

p.s. to the men out there, the womenfolk find a man that can bake a good loaf of bread irresistible...

sunny days

summer sun is perfect for beach days with friends. i'm looking forward to many more of these over the next few months.

{palm trees & cloudless skies}

{bikinis & aviators}

{toes in the sand}

a little bit of nyc in mia

as i count down the days until the big move, i've been finding little ways to experience nyc here in miami. lucky for me shake shack recently opened down on lincoln road. it was just as delicious as i remember, and i can't wait for more from madison square park!

i had: the shack burger with lettuce, onions and pickles!

while daniel's away...

we have very serious skype sessions about the blog.






























come home soon please!

morning glory

there is truly no better way to start the day than with a delicious breakfast
of fresh fruit and greek yogurt.

here's what i include:

chobani plain non-fat greek yogurt
fresh blueberries
fresh slices strawberries
a sprinkle of granola
a drizzle of honey

design inspiration {part 2}

these pops of color, also via apartment therapy, are my dream. i love everything down to the lomography cameras on the mantel! i wonder if this would work as well in a teeny tiny new york apartment?

design inspiration

the apartments in new york seem to be getting smaller and smaller (as the rents get higher and higher), so i was thrilled when i came across this small space maximizer on the upper west side from apartment therapy. i prefer a little more color in my surroundings, but this really reminded me what beautiful things you can do with a tiny space. (hint: as long as you have no clutter)







i wonder if i'll be able to get my living room that beautifully simple. i wouldn't mind having a little dog like that too!

trial run: color coded bookshelves

color coded bookshelves have been popping up everywhere lately, but i never completely saw the appeal. my bookshelves, however, are now packed to the gills and started to look a little scary, so i decided to give it a try. the result is much more simple, appealing, and even calming.

this is a great and completely free way to add a new twist to something you already own!

first, separate your books into groups: black, white, warm colors, and cool colors.

then, order them by color and intensity. for example, deep red -> bright red -> red orange -> orange -> yellow.

i chose to break up the colors with a shelf of white, to avoid a rainbow effect.

enjoy!

and here's a little close-up from my desk.

sunglasses from bcbgeneration

mug from anthropologie

and of course, my beloved holga

follow us on bloglovin here!

recipe: mango margaritas

one of the things i will miss most about miami is being able to walk into my backyard and gather a basketful of beautifully ripe mango. with about a dozen mangoes falling each day, we've learned to get creative with our recipes.

my mother and i began making mango margaritas recently, and now they're the talk of the neighborhood. they are so easy to make (hint: we use a mix), and dangerously delicious.

here is our super simple mango margarita recipe!

1 part tequila

3 parts margarita mix (we use jose cuervo mix)

1 part pureed fresh mango (or substitute for Kern's mango nectar if they're not in season)

3 limes per pitcher

crushed ice

salt

fresh mint (optional)

combine tequila, mix, and mango in a large pitcher. squeeze in fresh limes. add a few lime rounds to the pitcher for decor.

rim glasses with salt, and fill about two thirds with crushed ice. pour in margaritas, garnish with a lime wedge and a few mint leaves, and serve.

you can also blend the margarita mixture with the crushed ice for a frozen mango marg!

step 1: goodbye clutter

it's tough to imagine fitting just my clothes into a new york sized apartment, let alone everything i own. while i twiddle my thumbs and eagerly wait for moving day, i've launched a war against clutter to make sure i'm only taking the necessities with me.

here are my tips and tricks for letting go of unnecessary items:

1. pick out a charity you love to receive unwanted items.
it's so much easier to give something up when you know it will help someone less fortunate. i love giving things to goodwill. 
2. get yourself in the mood.
put on your favorite music that's both aspirational and inspirational. my go-to is the angus and julia stone pandora station.
3. have lots of trash bags on hand.
sort things into give-away, recycling, trash, and even items to sell! i recently paid for almost all my moving costs just by selling items i didn't want to take with me.
4. count how many times you've used the item in the last year.
if it's only a handful of times, chances are you can do without. i have several cookbooks that i was certain should come, until i realized i find all my recipes online!
5. get rid of multiples.
i had several pairs of black pants for work, until i realized i only ever wore my favorite two pairs! same goes for my three coin pouches and four travel mugs.
6. imagine your dream home.
can you picture this item with the decor? you should be constantly working toward your dream home!
7. ask yourself if you want this enough to pay to ship it across the country.
i actually am moving so this is my rule of thumb, but i find it's a pretty good indicator even if you're staying where you are.

enjoy!

the big move.

in just a few short months,

i'm following my passion all the way to nyc, 

and i'm lucky enough to have the boyfriend come along for the ride.

follow my journey as i prep and primp for life in the city!